Dawn Chorus at Sandall Beat Wood LNR
4.30 am 3rd May 1997
C. A. Howes
Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery
Introduction
Following the highly successful (though bitterly cold) Dawn Chorus survey of 1996, the 1997 event (undertaken in still, warm weather conditions) was designed to follow last year’s recording procedure in order to monitor any population trends and to compare the two seasons.
Survey Methods
The method was to follow a prescribed route through the wood, stopping at sixteen pre-determined locations for short (usually 5 minute) periods to listen for and note down the species and numbers of birds calling or singing.
The Sandall Beat Nature Reserve ‘Woodmen’s Trail’ leaflet provided the basis for the route, the group following the one-mile trail dedicated to the late George Covill (see location plan below)
Results and Comments
Some 100 birds (7 more than in 1996) of twenty-four species (8 more than 1996) were heard singing or calling at the 16 points within the wood.
In addition, a Peacock (!) and Domestic Chickens welcomed the Dawn from nearby smallholdings.
The number of birds at each listening point ranged from two specimens of two species to ten specimens of six species, with the average per listening point being 6.25 birds of 5 species. These figures enable the breeding bird biodiversity of Sandall Beat wood to be compared year on year and also compared with other woods in the region.
Table 1 shows the comparison between 1996 and 1997.
Table 1.
Mean number of Species and Individual singing birds at each Birdsong Monitoring Site
| Species | Individuals | |
| 1996 | 5.0 | 5.80 |
| 1997 | 5.0 | 6.25 |
The most productive listening points were 1, 2, 3, 6 and 16
Species Frequency
The top five species were
Blue Tit – which made up 20% of singing birds and was present at 75% of listening points
Wren – which made up 16% of calling birds and was present at 68% of listening points
Robin – which made up 14% of singing birds and was present at 62% of listening points
Great Tit – which made up 12% of singing birds and was present at 68% of listening points
Blackbird – which made up 6% of singing birds and was present at 31% of listening points.
Bio-diversity
24 species were recorded compared with 16 last year. Birds present in 1996 but not recorded this year were Tree Creeper and Pheasant but those additional to the 1996 list were Carrion Crow, Magpie, Green Woodpecker, Garden Warbler, Chiffchaff, Coal Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Willow Tit, Reed Bunting, Kestrel and Woodcock.
A welcome local rarity was the Nuthatch heard calling vigorously amongst the beeches to the north of the Sandall Beat Road car park near points 1 and 2. The calls of both Great Spotted and Green Woodpeckers advertised occupied territories and underlined the significance of ‘over mature’ and dead timber as an important element of the ecology of Sandall Beat. The presence of the Woodcock also betokened the ecological richness of this wood so close to urban pressure.
It was a relief to note that the Fen area, which in 1996 was a desiccated and burned-out remnant of its former self, now had a year’s growth of Common reed and was supporting at least one Willow Warbler and one Reed Bunting territory.
Although Blackbirds were present in the wood and Song Thrushes occurred not far away, their ‘Dawn Chorus’ heard from the wood paled into insignificance by comparison with that produced by urban Blackbirds and Song Thrushes in the adjacent housing estates. If decibels were anything to go by, garden habitats were clearly holding a significantly higher population.
Seasonal Changes (Swings and Roundabouts)
The group of birds which is particularly successful in Sandall Beat are the Titmice and their near relatives (Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit and Long-tailed Tit). Although this is a testimony to the importance of tree canopies and their rich invertebrate faunas, the 50% increase in these birds since last year (See Table 2) may be a reflection of a mild winter.
The greatest increase in a single species was seen in the Wren which rallied from seven singing males last year to sixteen this year. This may be local evidence of the general increase since the last severe winter.
Unlike the chilly conditions of 1996, when only Blackcap and Willow Warbler among the migrant warblers had taken up territories, the earlier spring of 1997 enabled this year’s survey to record Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff and Garden Warbler in the wood. Indeed, eight warbler territories were recorded this year compared with only four last year at the same date.
Table 2 (below) shows that members of the thrush family (Robin, Blackbird and Mistle Thrush) have declined significantly. Their collective decline was 39% compared with 1996. Since these are terrestrial feeders, dependent on soft bodied invertebrates of top-soil and leaf-litter, the prolonged drought, lowered water table and absence of water in any of the drains, could have reduced the adult population. If these conditions persist throughout the spring and summer, they could have devastating effects on nestling and fledgling survival rates.
Miscellaneous Notes
As observed during the 1996 survey, strange absentees were Dunnock, Greenfinch and Song Thrush.
The scarcity of Song Thrushes may be associated with the acid (lime-free) nature of the Sherwood sands and gravels which determine the local soil type. The relative frequency of Song Thrushes in adjacent urban gardens may be associated with the lime in concrete and mortar enabling molluscs (Song Thrush’s staple diet) to thrive.
Other birds seen:-
A single Kestrel flew over from the adjacent pony fields.
Mammals
Three bats were seen in the twilight between 4.30 and 4.50am Identification was not possible but one large specimen was probably a Noctule returning to a nearby tree-hole roost and the other two smaller specimens may well have been Pipistrelles, possibly from the Wood House.
Grey Squirrel dreys, built snugly in forks of oaks and beeches, were present in most parts of the wood but seemed fewer than last year. Perhaps an annual pre-vernal drey survey would help monitor population trends.
Although domestic cats are alleged to take a large slice of the urban ‘songbird pie’ it would be interesting to investigate the extent to which Grey Squirrels influence the breeding success rates of woodland songbirds in Sandall Beat Wood.
Molehills were present in most sections of the wood.
It was interesting to note how well used the wood was by local joggers, dog walkers and cyclists, even between 5 and 6 am!
Despite reputations for car break-ins and similar pilfering, it was worthy of note that though Helen’s car window was left fully open and was unattended for some one and a half hours, all of her camera and bird-watching equipment was untouched.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Helen Kirk and Louise Hill whose keen hearing, eyesight and identification skills made the morning survey such a worthwhile exercise.
CA Howes – 8.5.1997
Table 2
Sandall Beat Wood
Dawn Chorus Survey
| Year | Species | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | Total | Change |
| 1996 | Robin | 5 | 4 | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 24 | |
| 1997 | “ | 2 | 3 | 2 | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 14 | -10 |
| 1996 | Blue Tit | – | 1 | – | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 16 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | 1 | – | 2 | 2 | 4 | 20 | 4 |
| 1996 | Blackbird | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 10 | |
| 1997 | “ | 2 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | 6 | -4 |
| 1996 | Great Tit | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 8 | |
| 1997 | “ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | 12 | 4 |
| 1996 | Wren | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | – | 1 | 7 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 16 | 9 |
| 1996 | Wood Pigeon | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | – | – | 6 | |
| 1997 | “ | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | -3 |
| 1996 | Mistle Thrush | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 4 | |
| 1997 | “ | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | -1 |
| 1996 | Blackcap | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 3 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | Tree Creeper | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 3 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | -3 |
| 1996 | Pheasant | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | -3 |
| 1996 | Chaffinch | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| 1996 | Nuthatch | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 0 | -2 |
| 1996 | Gt Spotted Woodpecker | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | 1 | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | -1 |
| 1996 | Tawny Owl | – | – | – | 2 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | -1 |
| 1996 | Jay | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 | Willow Warbler | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | “ | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 2 | 1 |
| 1997 | Whitethroat | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Woodcock | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Willow Tit | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | Chiffchaff | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | Coal Tit | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Long-tailed Tit | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Reed Bunting | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Green Woodpecker | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Carrion Crow | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | 2 | |
| 1997 | Magpie | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Large Bat | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 1 | |
| 1997 | Small Bat | – | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | – | 3 | |
| 1996 | Titmice | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | “ | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1996 | Thrushes | ||||||||||||||||||
| 1997 | “ |
Postscript
Article for Museum Newsletter:-
Version 1
SANDALL BEAT PROBE REVEALS TITS ARE UP AND TURDS ARE DOWN !
One of the functions of the Museum’s Service Environmental Records operation is to identify and monitor the wildlife importance of local habitats.
A particularly anti-social though strangely popular means of assessing the ornithological biodiversity of these sites is to undertake springtime ‘Dawn Chorus’ surveys. In Sandall Beat these have become an annual events where the assembled volunteers follow a prescribed route through the wood, stopping at sixteen pre-determined locations to identify the species and numbers of calling or singing birds.
This year on May 3rd between 4.30 and 6am a total of 100 birds (7 more than in 1996) of twenty-four species (8 more than 1996) were heard singing or calling. These included such rarities as Green Woodpecker and Nuthatch with exotics like Peacock (!) and domestic chickens welcoming in the dawn from nearby smallholdings.
The average score at each listening post, 6.25 birds of 5 species this year, enables the breeding bird ‘biodiversity’ to be compared year on year and compared with other woods in the region.
Tits are up !
The birds enjoying most success in Sandall Beat at present are the Titmice and their near relatives (Blue Tit, Great Tit, Coal Tit, Willow Tit and Long-tailed Tit). Although this demonstrates the importance of mature tree canopies, rich in invertebrate food, the 50% increase in these birds since last year may be a reflection of a mild winter. Also benefiting from mild winters is the Wren which rallied from seven singing males last year to sixteen this year.
Turds are down !
Sadly, members of the thrush family [the Turdidae] (Robin, Blackbird and Mistle Thrush) had declined by 39% compared with 1996, the prolonged drought probably being the cause.
Urban ‘Loudmouths’
Although a few Blackbirds were present in the wood and Song Thrushes occurred not far away, their dawn chorus pipings paled into insignificance compared with the riotous ‘wall’ of sound produced by their urban cousins in the adjacent housing estates of Intake, Cantley and Armthorpe. If decibels were anything to go by, the ‘Turds’ prefer brick and concrete jungles to the green and pleasant variety.
Amazingly several local joggers, mountain bikers and dog walkers were up and active in the wood between 4.30 and 6am, their dawn chorus containing more wheezing than singing !
CA Howes 21.5.1997